Smartphones have completely changed how we experience concerts today. For many people, taking selfies and recording videos is a fun way to capture memories to share with friends. But for others, it can feel like all those glowing screens are taking away from the magic of the live experience.
No one seems to feel more strongly about this than country music superstar Miranda Lambert. Her bold opinion about selfies at her concerts has got fans—and the internet—talking non-stop.
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Miranda Lambert’s strong stance on concert etiquette sparked a big debate about fan behavior at live shows. The controversy started during her performance of “Tin Man” at her Las Vegas Velvet Rodeo residency in 2023, when she noticed a couple of girls in the audience taking selfies.
As Miranda started singing the hit song at the Bakkt Theater, she suddenly stopped the music. “I’m gonna stop right here for a second,” she said, pointing to the crowd. “These girls are worried about their selfie and not listening to the song. It’s p***ing me off a little bit.”
Miranda didn’t hold back: “I don’t like it, at all. We’re here to hear some country music tonight; I’m singing some country damn music.” She asked the group to sit down and even suggested starting the song again, making it clear she wanted the audience to focus on the live music, not their phones.
A fan caught this moment on video and shared it on TikTok, where it quickly went viral, sparking thousands of comments online. Some people supported Miranda’s decision to call out the distracted concertgoers, but others weren’t so happy about it.
One person on Twitter wrote, “Way to embarrass and shame your loyal fans who adore you.” Another fan argued, “She could’ve poked fun and posed in the selfie and then encouraged them to be in the moment after that. Not cool.”
On the other hand, some people agreed with Miranda’s frustration. One Twitter user stated, “Going to a concert is about creating a memory. If someone wants to take a picture, they should be able to.” But others argued that constantly looking at your phone takes away from the shared energy and authenticity of live music.
The fan involved in the incident, Adela Calin, later spoke out about her experience. She was “appalled” by Miranda’s reaction and explained that the selfie only took “30 seconds at most.”
“It felt like I was back at school with the teacher scolding me for doing something wrong and telling me to sit down back in my place,” Adela said in an interview with NBC News. She felt like Miranda was trying to make them look immature. “We were just grown women in our 30s to 60s trying to take a picture,” Adela explained.
The day after the concert, Adela posted the pictures on Instagram, showing her group of friends smiling for the camera while Miranda performed in the background. “These are the 2 pictures we were talking about when Miranda Lambert stopped her concert and told us to sit down and not take selfies 😱,” she wrote in the caption.
Miranda’s no-selfie stance didn’t stop there. At another show, she spotted a fan wearing a T-shirt that said, “Shoot tequila, not selfies,” and playfully called them out. “I see that shirt,” she said, pointing at the fan. The crowd cheered as Miranda read the message aloud.
Some saw this as a funny moment, while others felt Miranda was just reinforcing her earlier message against selfies.
One fan tweeted, “Wow! Can’t believe this was her response to her rudeness.” But others thought it was a playful acknowledgment of the selfie drama, adding fuel to the fire.
Miranda Lambert isn’t the only artist to speak out about concert etiquette. Over the years, many famous musicians have expressed their frustration with fans who focus too much on their phones.
In 2019, Bob Dylan made headlines when he stopped playing at a show in Vienna, Austria, after spotting a fan taking pictures. Dylan, who has a strict “no photos” policy, was clearly upset by the breach of that rule.
The issue has also sparked reactions from other big names in music. During a 2013 concert in Atlanta, Beyoncé noticed a fan in the front row too busy filming to join in on singing her song “Irreplaceable.” “See, you can’t even sing because you’re too busy taping,” Beyoncé said with a smile.
“Put that d*mn camera down!” While Beyoncé made the comment in a playful tone, the message was clear: live performances are meant to be experienced in the moment, not through a screen.
Other artists have been just as vocal. Cyndi Lauper included a message at every show during her 30th-anniversary tour, asking fans not to take pictures or film. Alicia Keys goes a step further, asking fans to put their phones in special pouches during her concerts to keep them focused on the performance.
Jack White, known for his strong opinions, even said, “If your phone is that important to you that you can’t live without it for two hours… maybe it’s time to see a therapist.” For artists like Jack White, the goal is to get fans to live in the moment, without distractions.
The issue of concert etiquette goes beyond phones. Some artists are also calling out other behaviors, like talking loudly or constantly moving around in the crowd. Adele recently joked about fans throwing things onstage during her concerts, daring anyone to throw something at her.
“Have you noticed how people are forgetting show etiquette at the moment, throwing (things) onstage?” she said.
Bebe Rexha, however, wasn’t so lucky. She was hit by a phone during a performance, which left her injured and sparked a bigger conversation about the safety of performers. Kelsea Ballerini and Harry Styles have also been hit with objects thrown by fans during their shows.
As fans continue to blur the lines between enjoying the concert and capturing the perfect viral moment, the debate over concert etiquette shows no signs of slowing down.
So, what’s next for concert culture? Should fans put their phones away to fully immerse themselves in the music, or should artists accept that modern audiences want to document every moment?
For Miranda Lambert, the incident in 2023 hasn’t changed her approach. She’s still enjoying her time performing live, but the whole experience has taught her a lot about herself.
“I feel like I’ve done a bunch and learned a whole lot of what not to do,” she told Taste of Country. “I give less of a s–t about what people that I don’t know think about me. But I care more about what people that are in my inner circle and really know my character do think.”
Miranda continued, “It just can bog you down, and it doesn’t mean anything. You can get really caught up about what strangers have to say about you. But it doesn’t speak to your character, because they don’t really know you. So I’m just trying to be me and be the best person I can be and learn from my mistakes.”
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